Thursday, November 29, 2012

I have been in love with crazy quilting creations for quite some time and was finally able to take a class on it in June. Well, of course, I fell even more in love with it (if that's possible) during the class. Now all I can think about is crazy quilting creations.

I know I've said this a million times before, but if you want to learn something learn it from the experts. Well, Pamela Kellogg, is definitely a well respected and recognized expert on crazy quilting, creative embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery (SRE), and cross-stitch. Her creations over the year just astonish me. I just love going to her blog and Etsy shop for the beautiful eye candy that you find there. So, you can imagine how pleased I was to see that she had a 4-part tutorial on her Kitty & Me Designs blog teaching you about art quilting. I hope you enjoy Pam's tutorials as much as I did.

Here's what Pamela had to say about her tutorial: Part 1 - Since I'll be starting to post my Art Quilting 101 tutorial next week, I thought I would take a few moments to give you a supply list and a few suggestions for embellishments.

Part 2 - In this post, I will show you how to layer the background. Please keep in mind that this is only one way of making an art quilt. The possibilities are endless but for anyone who would like to try Art Quilting and has no clue where to begin, this tutorial should help you.

For beginners, it's best to start with a theme and color scheme. Choose a vintage photo either on paper or on fabric. I printed my little girl on fabric and then chose elements that coordinated with the photo colors:

Part 3 - Now that you have your art quilt all layered and sewn together, it's time to start embellishing it. This can be a bit overwhelming at first. I'm sure you're wondering where to start. First let me say, that you have to let go of how you think it should be and allow it to be what it becomes! That is very important with art of any type. Try not to stress over it! Just go with it and let be what it wants to be.

Part 4 - This is the final part of how to finish an art quilt. Of course, you can do it however you want to. I just thought I'd offer you one way to do it if you've never made an art quilt before.

Please respect Pamela's TERMS OF USE: I like to share Craft and Embroidery Tutorials on how I do a variety of projects and techniques and helpful hints. I add to this list regularly. Please feel free to download the directions and if you try them, please let me know if you enjoyed the project!

Pamela's Bio:Designer, Textile Artist and Instructor. Although I love all forms of needlework and embroidery, my true passion is Crazy Quilting. I enjoy a quiet life in our little cottage by a lake in Northern Illinois. I frequent flea markets and antique shops looking for do-dads that I can sew on to my stitching projects. I offer some of my handmade items, along with my mom's and my sister's, in my Etsy shop. I enjoy baking and share many of my recipes here. And did I mention glitter?

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I just love spider web roses silk ribbon embroidery designs so I was happy to see that Carol Daisy had created a beautiful spider web roses with fern and babies breath design on her Silk Ribbon Embroidery blog that she is sharing with all of us. I can hardly wait to try it.

Please respect Carol's TERMS OF USE: The patterns and designs are available for your private use only & remain the copyright of "Embroideries from Daisy's Garden". Ribbon Embroidery Supplies are available from our Website " Embroideries From Daisy's Garden."

Carol's Bio:My life is at the stage that I can indulge in my interests of Embroidery and Crafts. Ribbons,beads,threads, laces and trims all have a special place here in my studio.

My childhood was spent on the family dairy farm in Toowoomba, Queensland. When I was about 12 years old, my Grandmother (nicknamed Daisy – hence the name Daisy’s Garden) introduced me to the joys of needlework. I am so thankful to her for giving me a skill that I could enjoy and build upon for life. After the chores were done, whenever I had some spare time, I would sit quietly on the front porch and stitch away. I remember these times so fondly. When I retired, and finally had some time to myself, I had the desire to do embroidery again. I didn’t get far with the fancy work tablecloth however, once I discovered Silk Ribbon Embroidery, I became addicted!

Monday, November 26, 2012

I just LOVE quilt designs and making quilts. If you are a beginner quilter and want to learn how to make a simple block quilt with appliqued figures then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog has a wonderful tutorial on making a "simply-a-bloom" quilt. I hope you enjoy Ros's tutorial.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: This quilt is perfect for a new quilter as it uses the simplest of block construction & appliqué techniques. It is made with Bonnie & Camille's gorgeous new line, 'Simple Abundance'.

Ros's Terms of Use: I have had the wonderful privilege of having some of my designs posted by Moda Bakeshop. These designs are free. Please link back to my designs if you use them and feel free to add photos to my 'Made with Bloom' Flickr group. Please do not use these tutorials for commercial purposes.

Ros's Blog Bio -A friend recently asked me which I could give up more easily, gardening or stitching. An impossible question. Of course, the suggestion that I could give up either is preposterous! If you are similarly enamored with blooms, whether they be real or stitched, welcome to my blog!

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: I am typing this with sticky fingers, so any typos you see are due to my fingers not leaving the keys... Right so I have found my Christmas making mojo (it was hidden behind last year's Christmas cards) and now I am ready to get on with the next project which is a little Advent chest of drawers calendar... Thomas Chippendale watch out!

I don't know about you but I am a sucker for crafting magazines, I love to browse through them, especially when someone I know is in there... better still if I did not expect to see them, take a bow Wendy Massey who is featuring in this month's Craftseller, as one of their "regular designers", well that is really thrilling as Wendy also runs Handmade Monday. Anyway, at the moment most of the magazines are giving away crafting papers... but I don't make cards or scrapbook and I can only pass on so much which means I have to find a use for it and the Advent chest of drawers is it.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

I know that I've mentioned that I can't crochet to save my soul. I wish I could because I'd love to try making the Crochety Old Bag that Ros Coffey has on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing. How adorable is that? If you can crochet - have a delightful time making your crochet handbag.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: Did you notice how many people have taken up crochet recently, even my guest, Susie blogged about it? So before the bandwagon drives off, here is a little something that I have created for you to make. And if you don't believe me take a look at Handmade Monday on Wendy's wonderful site and see who else has been bitten by the bug.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

You probably have stacks of old Christmas cards that you hate to just throw away. Right? Well, you don't have to. You can turn those old cards into boxes. If you want to know how just check out the tutorial that Laura Carson has on her Artfully Musing blog. Just think about all the wonderful little boxes you can make.

Here's what Laura had to say about her tutorial: So you have stacks of Christmas cards with great art on the front and what can you do with them. One thing is to make them into boxes. These little boxes are great for ATCs, gift cards, jewelry etc. and they are so simple to make.

Laura's Bio: After retiring from the computer software industry where I spent my career designing, building and marketing software, I needed a creative outlet. A few years ago I discovered Mixed Media Art and have had a love affair ever since. I’ve taught classes in Altered Books, Handmade Books, Collage Art and Mix Media Art. I currently design for Alpha Stamps and I enjoy trading in various art groups. Starting this blog is a way of sharing my art and the wonderful art I have received from others. I specialize in very detailed multi-layered and textured pieces. I live in Anthem Arizona with my husband Kevin, dog Sandy, and cat Tigger.

What could be cheerier than a mittens, stockings, and scarves garland made of felt? Not much. If you agree then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Coffey has a tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to make this adorable garland. I just love it.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: I like working with felt, it is so forgiving and it is brilliant at making winter outfits for elves. Now as you all know, no self respecting helper of Santa Claus would dream of turning up for work without his mittens, socks and matching scarf... so in case of any elf being caught short you will now have a spare wardrobe hanging over your fireplace.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

I just LOVE colorful Christmas decorations. If you do, too then you'll be happy to know that Cathy Jackson of Hazelruthe's blog has a wonderful tutorial showing you how to make colorful Christmas Trees from bottle brushes.

Here's what Cathy had to say about her tutorial: Have you ever wondered how to get those cool looking cream and colored bottle brush trees. Well I finally tried it this year and it worked! First of all they come that dark green with the white snow on them and usually a bag full of them. I got a bag of 16--assorted sizes--at Big Lots for 6.99.

Please respect Cathy's TERMS OF USE: You may use my tutorials for your own personal use to produce a project or use the technique but my tutorials may not be copied, reprinted, emailed, or transmitted in any form without my permission. You may, however, link back to the respective tutorials page of my Hazelruthes blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: OK, can you believe four months today Christmas Day will be over? We started a Christmas countdown at this time last year, so throughout the year I have been collecting ideas (and discarding them, too!) ready for the fray.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Do you need a small gift for a co-worker or teacher this holiday season? If so you might want to consider making June Crawford's "Mooo-ey Christmas" clay ornament that she shows us all how to make on her A Creative Dream's blog Have fun making your ornament.

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial: Really bad, huh? Even for me...moo-ey....but hey, it's Christmas... The luncheon went well at work, although I have to tell ya, there was more cake left over than I'd expected. Usually, when I take treats in they are wolfed down within the hour (The Little One says you can feel the earth rumble as they all make their way to where the treats are)...we did have an awful lot of stuff there though, so I am going to attribute it to that...'cause the cake was darned good!And, now...I am finishing up the ornaments I want to give my co-workers. This is the first one I got finished. My "real" job deals with agriculture, and one of the offices in the building deals specifically with milk. This ornament is for Cathy, who works in that office. It seemed only appropriate that I something cute using cows for her.One of my favorite ornaments on my tree is a crescent moon with a cow dangling over it that I made several years ago (you can see the moon behind these cows)...the cow jumping over the moon. I liked how the cow turned out when I made it, and thought I'd use the same sort of thing for this. The moon one is made of salt dough, this one is made of polymer clay.

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE: Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio: Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Friday, November 23, 2012

How would you like to make a gift that you could give to either a male or a female? Impossible you say. Not so. Just check out the reverse cable scarf tutorial that Ros Coffey has on her RosMadeMe Blog blog. Perfect gift for a guy or a gal!

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: Right, who is already running screaming for the door at the thought that not only are you going to cable but your knitting is going to be the same on each side? I promise you it will be really easy, think about it there are three stitches that look the same on both sides: garter, rib and moss or seed stitch and we will be using rib and moss stitch, and to help you further there is a YouTube demo of cabling pasted at the end of the pattern.

The scarf is made with Sirdar Big Softie and measures 6' 6" and the great thing is it will knit up really quickly... I made mine in two days on the train (45 min train journeys) and the great thing is with size 10 needles few are brave enough to sit next to you! The good news is this scarf is butch enough for chaps and, soft and snuggly enough for girls.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Some creations are just too cute. Such is the case with the wee birds that Karen Bailey shows everyone how to make on her Todolwen blog. I'm definitely adding these to my "to do" list for Christmas gifts this year.

Here's what Karen had to say about her tutorial: Hello my dear friends, at last I have finished the tutorial for my wee bird! It has taken me so much longer than I thought it would but sometimes things just don't work out the way we would like them to.

Please respect Karen's TERMS OF USE: Please do not copy my tutorials in full and/or claim them to be your own and/or post them on your blog without my permission. Furthermore the sale of my tutorials is prohibited. All my designs are protected under copyright.

Karen's Bio: My name is Karen Bailey, and I am the wife for over 20 years to a now retired british serviceman and a Mum to two beautiful daughters. For many years we traveled and lived all over the world whilst serving in the army. After leaving the army we now live in Ontario, Canada. My passion is antiques, especially victorian unrestored furniture and household items and creating/crafting. For me there is nothing better when I have a moment to sit down and make something beautiful. My blog is 'Todolwen' which is an anogram made up from 'old to new' which is what I love to do ~ take something old and give it a new life. I hope you enjoy my makings as much as I enjoy creating them.

If you love to knit and are looking for a beanie to make for a little boy then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Coffey has a tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to make a "Rufty Tufty Boys Beanie Hat." Have fun knitting.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: I have found lots of hats for little girls but hats for little boys are few and far between, so using the classic beanie design which uses multiples of eight stitches and knits in the round, I came up with a little number in cotton, which is both soft, structured and textured. They are such a quick knit I have made four for my first Spring Craft Show on Saturday, fingers crossed that they sell well!

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: Back in July we made a cushion to celebrate the Fourth of July, so using the same technique we are going to create some more great quilted decorations to fill your tree. Yet again we are going to raid the pastry cutter tin to find great shapes to use on the tree, you can use hearts, stockings, hearts, mittens, hearts, parcels and did I mention hearts? This is another great way of using up scrap strips to create effective tree decs, so let's hit your Christmas stash of fabrics and get started.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I just love all sorts of glittery Christmas ornaments. If you do, too then you're going to love Cathy Jackson's tutorial on her Hazelruthe's blog showing you how to make a star ornament out of a cereal box.

Here's what Cathy had to say about her tutorial: TSee what you can do with a cereal box...... You can make a pretty vintage looking Christmas star! I've seen several paper stars around Blogland and decided I needed to try it myself and thought I would share what I did.

Please respect Cathy's TERMS OF USE: You may use my tutorials for your own personal use to produce a project or use the technique but my tutorials may not be copied, reprinted, emailed, or transmitted in any form without my permission. You may, however, link back to the respective tutorials page of my Hazelruthes blog.

Do you like to decorate for the holidays? Are you looking for a great decoration? If you do and you are then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Coffey has a tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to make a bunting Christmas tree decoration.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: Our local fabric shop... the wonderful Belle Fabrics (who still do not have a website... grrr!) had a version of this tree in the window, so with their permission I used it as a starting point for my tree. I thought you might like this tree which means we can use lots of the techniques from the last couple of years, from how to make bunting, to the Christmas stars we are going to use on top of it.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: Right, I am not going to tell you how tough life is at the moment, so let's look at some ways to save a little bit of money over the Christmas holiday, which means this week we will make gift bows, candle holders and place settings.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

I love making Christmas Stockings and have made quite a few in my lifetime. Some were made of cloth, some were knit, some made of fleece, some lined, etc. I never made any strip pieced stockings so I was pleased when Ros Coffey told me she just finished a tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to make adorable strip pieced stockings. I'll definitively have to make some of these.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: I don't know about you but one of my most fave childhood Christmas memories was waking up in the early hours feeling the weight on your feet and knowing that Father Christmas had been, filled your stocking and waiting until daylight before I was allowed to open them. Although I was lucky that I was not my mum, as one Christmas two of her sisters, she was the eldest of 12, got up in the middle of the night and swapped the presents around so that they got what they wanted... at least, until my granny woke up! Back then I used my father's socks from his wellingtons, large creamy socks with utilitarian writ large, so we are going to make something a little more aesthetically pleasing for the end of our beds.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I just love decorations that you can display at the holidays and also display year round - if you want to. Don't you? If you do then you'll be pleased to know that Thespa McLaughlin has a wonderful tutorial and pattern on her of Vintiquities Workshop showing you how to make skinny stockings. I just LOVE them.

Thespa's Bio: I am a mixed media artist living with my family in the Ozarks. I love aged turquoise, faded cream, and lots of romantic layers. I dig rusty things and found objects and frequently use them in my art.

Do you love shabby chic decor, buttons and bottle trees? If you do then you'll love the creme sparkle button tree tutorial that Thespa McLaughlin has on her of Vintiquities Workshop. Can you picture a bunch of these on a cluster. I can!

Here's what Thespa had to say about her tutorial: I want to show you a little sparkly button tree I made this past weekend.
I used a bottle brush tree I had bleached a few weeks ago (you can find tutorials on how to do that on the web).

Thespa's Bio: I am a mixed media artist living with my family in the Ozarks. I love aged turquoise, faded cream, and lots of romantic layers. I dig rusty things and found objects and frequently use them in my art.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: I love ribbons, for this I blame my mother and her putting my hair in plaits when I was a child.

This cushion is actually rather easy but looks very impressive.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Do you like to knit? Are you looking for a great gift? If you do and you are then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Coffey has a tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to knit a cable hat and scarf.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: This is a hat and scarf created as a Christmas gift for my friend Miss Weston, hence the name, Weston Woollies, she is very much a hat, scarf and mittens girl in the Winter.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

I for one just LOVE pincushions of every shape and style. So, I was happy to see that Kaaren Johnston had a wonderful pattern on her The Painted Quilt blog showing you how to make a vintage pincushion. This is definitely going on my "to do" list.

Here's what Kaaren had to say about her pattern: My obsession with pincushions continues this month. After posting the photo of a pincushion that I designed for my swap partner in THIS post, several of you asked me to share the pattern so I decided to do so for this month’s First Friday Freebie.

Please respect Kaaren's TERMS OF USE: The use of my pattern/design and tutorials is limited to individual and personal use only. Distributing or selling my pattern or tutorials in any form is not permitted. They may not be used for commercial purposes unless written permission is granted. Credit for my pattern and tutorials should be included if displayed in any manner. Individual users may enlarge or reduce the size of the drawings for their personal use but may not alter them in any other way.

Kaaren's Bio: I am an artist and have recently retired from actively designing, publishing and travel teaching in the decorative painting industry. A short while later, in December of 2010, we moved from Eastern Ontario to the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Quilting, stitching, applique and most recently rug hooking have become my new passions. Oh, and did I mention that I love to make and collect pincushions and needlecases! Join me on the First Friday of every month when I release a new Freebie design for you to make and enjoy.

What would a mixed media winter creation be without icicles? If you've always wanted to learn how to create icicles then you'll be happy to know that Laura Carson has a wonderful tutorial on her Artfully Musing blog showing you how. I hope you enjoy her tutorial.

Here's what Laura had to say about her tutorial: A great way to add an extra touch to winter themed art is with snow and icicles. You can achieve the look of ice and snow using White Flocking Powder and Twinklets Diamond Dust Glitter Sugar Crystal. Both products are available at some craft stores, art supply stores, and on the Internet. To give this Christmas Toy Shop a touch of winter I added snow and icicles to the bay windows.

Laura's Bio: After retiring from the computer software industry where I spent my career designing, building and marketing software, I needed a creative outlet. A few years ago I discovered Mixed Media Art and have had a love affair ever since. I’ve taught classes in Altered Books, Handmade Books, Collage Art and Mix Media Art. I currently design for Alpha Stamps and I enjoy trading in various art groups. Starting this blog is a way of sharing my art and the wonderful art I have received from others. I specialize in very detailed multi-layered and textured pieces. I live in Anthem Arizona with my husband Kevin, dog Sandy, and cat Tigger.

Do you like making ribbon and lace tassels? If you do then you'll be happy to know that Karen Bailey has a wonderful tutorial on her Todolwen blog showing you how to make ribbon and lace tassels. Have fun making yours!

Here's what Karen had to say about her tutorial: Hello my dear friends, this is what I made with some of the lace I showed you yesterday. It is a decorative tassel which you could use to hang on your door, wall or anywhere you would like. I didn't buy anything for this creation - I found everything in my craft room and it is very easy to make.

Please respect Karen's TERMS OF USE: Please do not copy my tutorials in full and/or claim them to be your own and/or post them on your blog without my permission. Furthermore the sale of my tutorials is prohibited. All my designs are protected under copyright.

Karen's Bio: My name is Karen Bailey, and I am the wife for over 20 years to a now retired british serviceman and a Mum to two beautiful daughters. For many years we traveled and lived all over the world whilst serving in the army. After leaving the army we now live in Ontario, Canada. My passion is antiques, especially victorian unrestored furniture and household items and creating/crafting. For me there is nothing better when I have a moment to sit down and make something beautiful. My blog is 'Todolwen' which is an anogram made up from 'old to new' which is what I love to do ~ take something old and give it a new life. I hope you enjoy my makings as much as I enjoy creating them.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Are you looking for an adorable and different ornament for your tree this year? If you are then you'll be happy to know that June Crawford has a wonderful tutorial on her A Creative Dream blog showing you how to make a spiky ball ornament. I'll be making plenty of these. &Have fun making yours.

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial: Wow... a new year... I was wondering what in the world I would share with everyone to start the new year off right, and then I opened my email. Y'all seem to really like my spikey balls... at least judging by the number of emails asking how I made them and requesting a tute. Honestly, I didn't share these earlier because I thought everyone knew how to make them. I remember doing them with my grandmother when I was little, so they're not something new. I was wrong... who knew? Always one who likes to give my readers what you want, seems the perfect thing to share to begin this new year. So here we go... the first tutorial of 2012...

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE: Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio: Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Here's another fun thing to do with the kids during the holiday season. Chasity Gordon has a terrific tutorial on her Belle and Burger blog showing you how to make a bottle cap advent calendar. Have fun with the kids.

Here's what Chasity said about her tutorial:~SO I really wanted to make burger an advent calendar, I actually have never even had one myself. We have been really into discussing numbered Days and the order of our fall events so I thought we needed this holiday activity. I pulled this one together this weekend all from stuff around the house.

~I decide I would use bottle caps as the doors or boxes. I already collect them compulsively for pin cushions and I am always looking for other uses for my mounds of them however I usually only stash 2 types. So I stashed every bottle cap for the week and that gave me a nice assortment of caps.

Chasity's Bio - Chasity Gordon is the owner of Belle South and Belle and Burger blog. She makes clothing, accessories, household items, baby clothes and slings, and handmade cards, prints and books. She is a home schooled seamstress and crafty by nature, but trained as a studio print maker studying printmaking and ceramics in college and was drawn to "lowbrow" functional art. She uses pockets, patches, apron bibs and wallet fronts as sort of blank pages to draw and collage with bits of fabric and string.

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

I'm a pack rat when it comes to my fabric and fabric scraps. I really should throw some of the fabric out, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Well, now I don't have to as Ros Coffey has a wonderful tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to make a Christmas wreath from rags. I may just have to make a few - well, maybe a lot. I do have a lot of fabric scraps!

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: Right, from the get go I am going to tell you this is not what I had planned for this weekend but I went on a trip to Hobbycraft looking for a flower loom but could not find one. However, I did find a polystyrene wreath which I had been after for a while because I wanted to make a slightly different sort of rag wreath this year. I think that this might be a great hit with the children over half term if you do the fabric cutting in advance and it looks equally good on your front door or hung inside to match your colour scheme. The other great thing is that this wreath can be used for a number of years and by carefully storing the fabrics you can recycle it throughout the year - which means you will be green without an ounce of greenery!

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

I have several different Santa collections that I bring out at the holiday season. There's my tall Santa's collection, my mini Santa's collection, my Santa dolls. What I don't have is a collection of Santa pillows. Given that Kaaren Johnston has a wonderful pattern on her The Painted Quilt blog showing you how to make a woodland Santa pillow I may just have to start that collection of Santa pillows. How about you?.

Here's what Kaaren had to say about her pattern: Yesterday we flipped the calendar over to December and today is the First Friday of the month…already! If this is your first visit here, welcome! You’ve picked the right day to stop by because on the First Friday of every month, I release a new Freebie design for you to make and enjoy.

So in keeping with the season, allow me to present to you my Woodland Santa. This month, I decided to make a pillow out of mine.

Please respect Kaaren's TERMS OF USE: The use of my pattern/design and tutorials is limited to individual and personal use only. Distributing or selling my pattern or tutorials in any form is not permitted. They may not be used for commercial purposes unless written permission is granted. Credit for my pattern and tutorials should be included if displayed in any manner. Individual users may enlarge or reduce the size of the drawings for their personal use but may not alter them in any other way.

Kaaren's Bio: I am an artist and have recently retired from actively designing, publishing and travel teaching in the decorative painting industry. A short while later, in December of 2010, we moved from Eastern Ontario to the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Quilting, stitching, applique and most recently rug hooking have become my new passions. Oh, and did I mention that I love to make and collect pincushions and needlecases! Join me on the First Friday of every month when I release a new Freebie design for you to make and enjoy.

I just LOVE wool felt creations - especially if they combine my love of flowers with Christmas. So, I was especially pleased to see that Lisa Jordan had a tutorial on her Lil Fish Studios blog showing you how to make a poinsettia brooch. I'll be making a few of these as gifts this holiday season. Will you?

Lisa's Bio:Living under the poplar and pine in rural Minnesota I find inspiration in the nature that surrounds me. I'm especially drawn to mushrooms, moss, and the oddly lumpy and beautifully textural bits found on the forest floor.

I'm especially enthralled with wool and wood. Sustainability is important to me and is reflected in the materials and processes I use.

Sunday, November 04, 2012

I just LOVE trees of all different shapes and sizes and LOVE decorating with them. If you do, too then you'll be happy to know that June Crawford has a wonderful tutorial on her A Creative Dream blog showing you how to make some adorable Christmas trees. I'll be making plenty of these. Have fun making yours.

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial: How in the heck did Christmas get here so darned fast? I know it wasn't long ago I was writing about the scent of the magnolias and fireflies...But, alas, it is here, and all the stress that goes with it. I've got one last offering of an ornament pattern for you before it hits! I whipped three of these things up last night in about two hours, in spite of the help that the dog gave me. He's cute, but he sure isn't much help in the thumbs department...So, here's what I've got...a Christmas tree inspired by the ones I made for the cake the other day...and a little because I watched the Rudolph special the other evening. This really is a quick and done sort of thing, it's simple, but I think they turn out darling. These are just the tip of the iceberg, you can decorate them with any and everything, just let your imagination run wild.

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE: Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio: Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

My sister just adores cardinals and I try to make something for her every once in awhile. So, I was happy to see that Kaaren Johnston had a wonderful pattern on her The Painted Quilt blog showing you how to make a mini winter quilt with a cardinal. My sister would love it.

Here's what Kaaren had to say about her pattern: Can you believe that it’s the First Friday of February already? I certainly hope that this month flies by as quickly as January did because that would mean we’re that much closer to Spring. Please…no more snow!

Since we are in the throes of winter and cardinals visit our bird feeders on a daily basis, I drew my inspiration for this month’s FFF (First Friday Freebie) from their beauty. Their coloring is simply amazing and lends itself perfectly to redwork. This month’s project is called, “Winter”.

Please respect Kaaren's TERMS OF USE: The use of my pattern/design and tutorials is limited to individual and personal use only. Distributing or selling my pattern or tutorials in any form is not permitted. They may not be used for commercial purposes unless written permission is granted. Credit for my pattern and tutorials should be included if displayed in any manner. Individual users may enlarge or reduce the size of the drawings for their personal use but may not alter them in any other way.

Kaaren's Bio: I am an artist and have recently retired from actively designing, publishing and travel teaching in the decorative painting industry. A short while later, in December of 2010, we moved from Eastern Ontario to the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Quilting, stitching, applique and most recently rug hooking have become my new passions. Oh, and did I mention that I love to make and collect pincushions and needlecases! Join me on the First Friday of every month when I release a new Freebie design for you to make and enjoy.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Are you looking for an adorable and different baby gift or ornament for your home? If you are then you'll be happy to know that June Crawford has a wonderful tutorial on her A Creative Dream blog showing you how to make an adorable snowman ornament.

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial: A new baby is coming (thank goodness it isn't mine!)!!! We have a new mommy to be at work. This is Kristen's first baby, it's a little boy, and she's due in August. I really don't know Kristen more than to say hi and ask her how it's all going in the hallway, but I sure am excited for her. I don't have a first clue about what the nursery is done in, or really what she's interested in, or what she has for the baby...but, because I think First Christmas ornaments are always a great gift, I'm going to make one for the baby. I asked several people in her department what the baby's name is going to be, and not a single one could remember, but they promised to find out for me so I could make it more personal. After considering all of my options, I've decided to go with a snowman (mostly because I think they are so darned cute!). I'm going to share the making of it with you, so on to the snowman! (Many thanks to my daughter, Kate, for taking pics for me!)

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE: Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio: Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Do you like hand quilting in redwork style? And, do you love snowmen? Well, if you do Kaaren Johnston has a wonderful pattern on her The Painted Quilt blog showing you how to make a winter wonderland quilt. Have fun in the snow!

Here's what Kaaren had to say about her pattern: Worked in the traditional redwork style and hand quilted, this month’s FFF features a little girl building a snowman and is accompanied by her cat. What do you think, is the cat is there to keep her company or does he have something else on his mind…like dinner? *wink*

Please respect Kaaren's TERMS OF USE: The use of my pattern/design and tutorials is limited to individual and personal use only. Distributing or selling my pattern or tutorials in any form is not permitted. They may not be used for commercial purposes unless written permission is granted. Credit for my pattern and tutorials should be included if displayed in any manner. Individual users may enlarge or reduce the size of the drawings for their personal use but may not alter them in any other way.

Kaaren's Bio: I am an artist and have recently retired from actively designing, publishing and travel teaching in the decorative painting industry. A short while later, in December of 2010, we moved from Eastern Ontario to the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Quilting, stitching, applique and most recently rug hooking have become my new passions. Oh, and did I mention that I love to make and collect pincushions and needlecases! Join me on the First Friday of every month when I release a new Freebie design for you to make and enjoy.

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